Lot 87

Johann Schegs, Cibin(ium) Sibiu, Height 380 mm, circa 1630
An astronomical tabernacle clock of museum quality with jumping retrograde hour, calendar, moon phase and quarter hour / hour strike
Case: brass, firegilt, ebonised wood base. Dial: silver. Movm.: rectangular full plate brass movement, chain/fusee, verge escapement, ratchet wheel set up with blued steel spring, short pendulum.
This astronomical tabernacle clock is nearly 400 years old; it sits on a moulded base on four bun feet that is decorated in applied relief with vine leaf. Front and sides are lovingly engraved with flowers and tendrils and in each of the four corners stands a baluster column. The two-tiered open work bell tower with two bells is surrounded by a balustrade and topped by a moon phase orb. Retrograde Roman numerals and delicate iron hand for hours on a segmented chapter ring; below a control dial for the striking mechanism. On the right side is a florally engraved dial with outer month ring with a smaller dial with date ring below; on the left are a dial with symbols of the Zodiac with a disc with planetary symbols below, with all names in Latin. The movement is constructed over several levels and runs one day; it has three barrels and is of outstanding quality – an early masterpiece and a very complex design that was clearly influenced by other makers of the period in Augsburg.

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